The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-12
A STORY OF DECAY AND DEATH---MANY
OLD SOLDIERS SLEEP THEIR LAST
SLEEP.
Extract from Speech Of Hon. Chas. ID.
Jones. Jr., Before the Survivors
Associnfian of AUGUSTA. Sin.

Although only twenty-five years have elaps
cd since tho fall of the ConledCracy, the cata-
Iugre of the dead who while In lite bore pro-
mincnt parts in the maintenance Of that gov.
eminent Is remarkable. Not the flight OF
time only, but burihenSomc losses, weishty
diSappointncntS, mental and physlcal ten
ston, and unusual affections have had much
to do In bringing about Il heavy mort ity.
This will increase during the next decade In IL
greater than gcomatrical ratio, and very soon
there will he none among the living who bore
personal allegiance TO the American nag. Ine
Youngest survivor of the Confederate army
and navy--wcll-kept Benedict or spruce bach:
clor though he be-must surely have attained
his 10th year. The head OF the average SOL
dier is silvcred with age, and multitudcs who
were In the meridian Of life when the storm
ragged have succumbcd to the inevitable law
which fixes the bounds Of human life.
Let us see, in II general way, how The record
stands:
Our venerable President still lives and at
Beauvoir enjoys serene old age beneath Inc
grateful shadows Of Southern live oaks ana
magnolias; but the Vice. President OF the Con-
fcderacy four years ago terminated his active
and useful career.
OF those who held the portfolio Of State
Robert Toombs, r. NJ. 7. Hunter and Judah
=. Benjamin are all dead.
or the four Attorneys General, ex-Gov.
Thos. II. Watts and the Hon. Geo. Davis sur
Mr. Memminger of the Treasury Depart
ment, SILL lives. Tho other Secretary-the
gifted George a. Trenholm-has for years
been sleeping that sleep which knows no
waking.
or the five Secretaries of War-Leroy Pope
Walker Judah p. Benjamin, Geo. w. Run-
dolph, James A. Seldom and John e. Brecken-
ridge-not one is alive.
Turning to the navy department, we find
upon the death roll the names OF secretary
Stephen r. Mallory, of Commodore F.. Frost
chief of the bureau of orders; Of Admirals
and Mkaphw
Inns, 1ngraham, and OF many otherprominent
officers.
Of those who bore rank as full Generals in
vive. Generals Joseph +. Johnston and G. r.
Beauregard. General Albert s. johnson fell
In the battle Of Shiloh and Generals Robert
L. Ice and Braxton Bragg died since the ces-
There were two generals with temporary
| rank-E. Kirby Smith and John B. Hood.
The former lives and the latter in dying COM
mcnded his orphans to the care OF the soldiers
OF the C0nfederacy.
Twenty.one officers were complimented
with the grade OF Lieutenant. General. The
only survivors are General James Longstreet,
p: Kirby Smith, D.. H. Hill, Stephen d. Lee
Wade Hampton, Jubal A. Early, Alexander
p. Stewart, Joseph Wheeler, Simon B. Buck.
ner and John B. Gordon.
OF the one hundred who were commission
ed as Major-Gcnerals in Confederate service, if
my Information be correct only forty-five are
now numbered among the living
OF four hundred and eighty who rose to the
x
means partial-incIineS me to the belief that
there are not two hundred IN life.
With the exception OF Thomas II. Watts, OF
Alabama, Joseph Il. Brown, of Georgia, Zebu-
Ion b. Vance, of North Carolina, NJ. l.. Bon
ham and y. q. Magrath, of South Carolina,
Isham q. Harris, OF Tennessee, and perhaps
Richard Halves, of Kentucky. all The war
Governors of Confederate States are dead.
The Constitution OF the Confederate States
was signed by forty-nine delegates. All who
affixed their signatures TO that memorable
document are dead except &. q. Mcmminger,
w. Porcher Miles and William w. Boyce, OF
South Carolina, Augustus r. Wright of Geor.
eia, David p Lewis and Jabcz l.. NJ. Curry, OF
Alabama, w. p. Harris, Alexander NJ. Clay
ton and j. a. p. Campbell, OF Mississippi.
Thomas n. Waul and John H. Reagan, Of
Texas.
And who can furnish even roster of the
prvatcs. subordinatcs In various depart
mentS, and servants OF the COnfcderacy, who
have died since the final surrender? surely
none, save the recording angel Is competent
for such a task. Wounds, bruises, poverty,
desolation, exposures, wants and disappolnt-
mentS have eXerted potent influence In
shortening the lives OF many who escaped
death upon the march, on the field OF battle,
or In prison, camp or hospital. In the natur-
al order Of affairs, the multitude OF those who
have thus gone 10 their graves must be great.
Sad as the lact Is, we may rest assured that
with the close of this century there will re-
main comparatively few competent, from per-
sonul experience, to narrate any OF the Incl
dents connected with the Confederate strug-
gle for independence.